Inexpensive coop litter options

[3KillerBs]

Thank you! The coop will have a wood floor to prevent cold air (draft s)and keep predators out. The purpose of building a hardware cloth floor above the other floor is to to keep the chickens out of the poop I collect.The raised floor will only be under the roost bars .I will try to find the galvanized hardware cloth that's coated with pvc to make it less likely to injure their feet(it makes the 1" mesh smaller too)
EDIT: I will have several poop trays underneath the hardware cloth.

If there is a solid, predator-proof floor below the wire and the only purpose for the wire is to keep the birds out of the poop then you could use a larger wire -- even something like 2x4 wire -- since they won't be walking on it.

 

[McChooky]

If there is a solid, predator-proof floor below the wire and the only purpose for the wire is to keep the birds out of the poop then you could use a larger wire -- even something like 2x4 wire -- since they won't be walking on it.

Anything larger than 1" will cause their foot to fall thru it .

 

[3KillerBs]

Anything larger than 1" will cause their foot to fall thru it .

If it's only under the roost they won't be walking on it.

I know I've seen photos of coops with droppings pits under the roosts which have 2x4 or similar wire keeping the chickens out of the pit but I blanking on the member's name and can't bring it up on a search.

 

[McChooky]

If it's only under the roost they won't be walking on it.

I know I've seen photos of coops with droppings pits under the roosts which have 2x4 or similar wire keeping the chickens out of the pit but I blanking on the member's name and can't bring it up on a search.

If I can find a photo of one similar to mine I'll upload it.

 

[McChooky]

If it's only under the roost they won't be walking on it.

I know I've seen photos of coops with droppings pits under the roosts which have 2x4 or similar wire keeping the chickens out of the pit but I blanking on the member's name and can't bring it up on a search.

Ever use these for flooring? 1" Dura slat rigid plastic mesh panels

 

[gtaus]

Thank you! The coop will have a wood floor to prevent cold air (draft s)and keep predators out. The purpose of building a hardware cloth floor above the other floor is to to keep the chickens out of the poop I collect.The raised floor will only be under the roost bars .I will try to find the galvanized hardware cloth that's coated with pvc to make it less likely to injure their feet(it makes the 1" mesh smaller too)
EDIT: I will have several poop trays underneath the hardware cloth

OK. I understand.

FWIW, I have found the best setup for me was to use dry deep bedding in the coop as litter, no poop boards, and just let the chicken poo fall unto the litter below the roosting bar. The chicken poo automagically dries up and disappears into the deep bedding. I only have to clean out the coop litter once or twice a year.

My coop with deep bedding does not smell, which is my test for when things need to be cleaned or changed out. If you have poop boards or trays, I would think the concentrated poo would not dry up (like in deep bedding/litter) and that you will have to clean out the poop trays often. But sounds like you are ready for that in your setup.

 

[McChooky]

OK. I understand.

FWIW, I have found the best setup for me was to use dry deep bedding in the coop as litter, no poop boards, and just let the chicken poo fall unto the litter below the roosting bar. The chicken poo automagically dries up and disappears into the deep bedding. I only have to clean out the coop litter once or twice a year.

My coop with deep bedding does not smell, which is my test for when things need to be cleaned or changed out. If you have poop boards or trays, I would think the concentrated poo would not dry up (like in deep bedding/litter) and that you will have to clean out the poop trays often. But sounds like you are ready for that in your setup.

Basically I want what everyone else wants.A self cleaning coop lol

 

[3KillerBs]

Ever use these for flooring? 1" Dura slat rigid plastic mesh panels

I use deep bedding/deep litter -- no poop boards.

Those panels have a lot of solid areas on them for poop to stick to rather than fall through.

 

[gtaus]

Basically I want what everyone else wants.A self cleaning coop lol

Self-cleaning coop!

When I was a kid, back in the 1970's, my dad bought a bunch of wire cages used for commercial chickens. They were all wire cages with wire bottoms. IIRC, the wire used was 1 inch X 2 inches. I guess the idea was that the chicken poo would just fall through on the ground and they had a machine to clean the floor. But those wire cages were only maybe 1 foot wide by about 2 feet deep, and I think they kept 2 chickens in each stall. It must have been a miserable life for those chickens but then I assume they were culled after about 18 months. I never used those cages for chickens. We used the wire and made some nice rabbit cages, using 1/2 X 1 inch wire for the bottom. Worked great for my rabbits.

Although deep bedding and deep litter are not self cleaning, per se, most of us only have to clean out the coop once or twice a year. I clean out my coop twice a year because I use the coop litter to make compost for my gardens. Otherwise, I think I could easily go a full year without cleaning out the old litter in the coop. It takes me about a full hour to clean the coop, but I prefer that to using poop boards or trays that need to be cleaned out daily or weekly as required.

Also, I live in northern Minnesota, and for about 6 months of the year we are in frozen weather and the chicken poo turns hard as rocks. During the winter months, the chicken poo accumulates in the coop, mainly under the roosting bars, but we just throw fresh layers of litter on top of the old. Keeps the coop looking good and fresh. In the spring, that's when I do my big cleaning. It's not self-cleaning, but minimal cleaning required.

Before I built my chicken coop, I spent about 1 year talking to chicken owners in my area on how they take care of their chickens, with an eye especially on our winter months. Nobody I talked to used poop boards or trays where I live. Everyone was using some type of deep bedding, especially in the winter when it's next to impossible to clean out a coop. It seemed like the best method for me to use as well. Again, I think location matters and I'm sure my coop would not have near enough ventilation needed for a coop in southern Florida, for example. But it works for where I live.

 

[McChooky]

Self-cleaning coop!

When I was a kid, back in the 1970's, my dad bought a bunch of wire cages used for commercial chickens. They were all wire cages with wire bottoms. IIRC, the wire used was 1 inch X 2 inches. I guess the idea was that the chicken poo would just fall through on the ground and they had a machine to clean the floor. But those wire cages were only maybe 1 foot wide by about 2 feet deep, and I think they kept 2 chickens in each stall. It must have been a miserable life for those chickens but then I assume they were culled after about 18 months. I never used those cages for chickens. We used the wire and made some nice rabbit cages, using 1/2 X 1 inch wire for the bottom. Worked great for my rabbits.

Although deep bedding and deep litter are not self cleaning, per se, most of us only have to clean out the coop once or twice a year. I clean out my coop twice a year because I use the coop litter to make compost for my gardens. Otherwise, I think I could easily go a full year without cleaning out the old litter in the coop. It takes me about a full hour to clean the coop, but I prefer that to using poop boards or trays that need to be cleaned out daily or weekly as required.

Also, I live in northern Minnesota, and for about 6 months of the year we are in frozen weather and the chicken poo turns hard as rocks. During the winter months, the chicken poo accumulates in the coop, mainly under the roosting bars, but we just throw fresh layers of litter on top of the old. Keeps the coop looking good and fresh. In the spring, that's when I do my big cleaning. It's not self-cleaning, but minimal cleaning required.

Before I built my chicken coop, I spent about 1 year talking to chicken owners in my area on how they take care of their chickens, with an eye especially on our winter months. Nobody I talked to used poop boards or trays where I live. Everyone was using some type of deep bedding, especially in the winter when it's next to impossible to clean out a coop. It seemed like the best method for me to use as well. Again, I think location matters and I'm sure my coop would not have near enough ventilation needed for a coop in southern Florida, for example. But it works for where I live.

I think I'll have to watch a couple more videos on how the deep litter method works.It won't work in the coops I have now but (edit) this one's in the planning stage!Thank you for your feedback and taking the time to help ! Its much appreciated!